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MILWAUKEE COUNTY

One-car accident kills woman, 20

A 20-year-old Milwaukee woman was killed early Wednesday in a one-car crash at N. 35th St. and W. Forest Home Ave., authorities said.

Patricia L. Aguirre was a passenger in a car that struck a light pole after the car turned sideways while failing to negotiate a bend in the road as it headed south on 35th St. The vehicle, a 2001 Honda Accord, was split in two by the impact, according to the medical examiner's report.

A preliminary investigation suggests speed and alcohol may have played a role in the crash, the report said. Aguirre was dead at the scene shortly after 1 a.m.

The report did not say what happened to the driver of the car.

Ex-parks director Black finalist for Dallas job

Sue Black, fired earlier this year as Milwaukee County parks director, is one of two finalists for parks director in Dallas.

The other finalist is the assistant director of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, according to a report in the Dallas Morning News.

The newspaper reported that officials hope to make a decision on who gets the job by early next year.

WAUKESHA COUNTY

Police looking for man who robbed bank

The Associated Bank, 1270 W. Sunset Drive in Waukesha, was robbed of an undisclosed amount of money shortly before 1:30 p.m. Wednesday by a man who implied he had a weapon, police said.

Police were searching for the man, described as white or Hispanic, 28 to 35 years old, 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing between 215 and 230 pounds.

The man has several small tattoos under his right eye, possibly stars, and was wearing a dark, hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call (262) 524-3831.

WISCONSIN

State native promoted to brigadier general

Janesville - A Janesville native has been promoted to brigadier general.

President Barack Obama nominated Army Col. Andrew Poppas to the rank of brigadier general. The Senate must confirm the nomination, which is considered a formality.

Poppas is a 1984 Craig High School graduate.

For the past seven months, the 46-year-old has been the 101st Airborne Division's deputy commander for operations at Fort Campbell, Ky. It's a duty ordinarily filled by a brigadier general.

He is scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan in February. He served a tour of duty in Afghanistan from May 2010 to May 2011.

Potato growers revoke Olympian's contract

Antigo - The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association has revoked its contract with its spokeswoman Suzy Favor Hamilton.

In its newsletter "Tater Talk," officials said they were in contact with the three-time Olympian on Friday who confirmed the news was true that she worked as an escort and she agreed to the contract revocation.

The board cited the moral turpitude clause in the contract, saying the situation would reflect unfavorably on the Antigo-based organization.

The Smoking Gun reported Thursday the 44-year-old who lives in Madison had been working for the last year for a Las Vegas escort service. Hamilton also released a series of tweets, saying the reasons for doing it were related to depression.

The potato growers' newsletter says it wishes "her well in finding stability in her future."

Sauk County road designated 'rustic'

Town of LaValle - Wisconsin has a new rustic road, and it's in Sauk County.

Gov. Scott Walker has designated Bundy Hollow Road in the Town of LaValle as State Rustic Road No. 112.

Wisconsin's Rustic Road system was created in 1973 to preserve scenic, lightly traveled country roads for the enjoyment of bikers, hikers and motorists. Rustic roads have a speed limit of 45 mph.

The system now includes more than 640 miles of rustic roads in 58 counties.

Candidates seek signatures for ballot

Madison - Those hoping to run for state schools superintendent or a position on the state Supreme Court are making a final push to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot.

State Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers and state Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack are both up for re-election this spring. Evers, Roggensack and anyone looking to challenge them must submit nomination papers with at least 2,000 valid signatures to the state Government Accountability Board by the close of business on Jan. 2 to get on the ballot.

Evers said his campaign has gathered somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 signatures, the maximum amount candidates can submit. His challenger, state Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford), didn't immediately return a telephone message Wednesday. No one else has registered with GAB to run against Evers.

Brandon Scholz, a Roggensack campaign adviser, said their volunteers had collected more than 4,000 signatures and campaign workers planned to spend the next few days vetting them.

"We are way over the top," Scholz said. "We want to make sure there's no problems. Each line we'll go through so we know that they comply."

Lemon law attorney Vince Megna and Marquette University law professor Ed Fallone have both registered to challenge Roggensack.

Megna caused a stir earlier this month when he declared he was a Democrat and demanded that other candidates in the race declare their political affiliations. Supreme Court races are officially nonpartisan, but Republicans and Democrats tend to back their chosen candidates.

Megna said Wednesday he's about 300 signatures short of 2,000, but that his volunteers are still working and he expects to have the names by the deadline.

Fallone said that he was confident he'll have at least 2,000 signatures.

GAB officials have scheduled a primary for Feb. 19. The general election will follow on April 2.